13 Things Successful People Do Right Before Bed (That You Should Be Doing Too!)

The things you do before you go to bed have a major impact on your mood and performance levels the next day. Successful people get enough sleep and also perform bedtime routines that are meaningful and helpful to them. Here are some pre-bedtime habits you can start getting into in order to become more successful in all areas.

Make a to-do list.

It’s important to clear your mind to get a restful night’s sleep. Write down any thoughts you have or some tasks that you didn’t get to that day. That way you can address all of them tomorrow and won’t waste valuable mental space thinking about them all night or trying to remember them the next day.

Reflect on the day.

It’s always a good idea to slow down and think about what REALLY happened that day. Reflection is something successful people are good at doing. Try thinking of three things you’re appreciative of, even if you had just a so-so day. This can be a great way to stay motivated during a hard period. You’ll find yourself waking up in a better mood, which will contribute positively to your overall well-being.

Spend quality time with friends or family.

It doesn’t matter who it is in your life — a partner, your kids, or even a cherished pet. It’s important to spend quality time with them to vastly improve your mood and outlook on life.

Read something non-work related. 

Experts agree that the most successful people (like Bill Gates, for example) all read something as the very last thing they do before going to sleep. Whether it’s catching up on the news stories of the day or reading a novel or work of non-fiction, it’s simply the best thing you can do before you fall asleep. Just make sure that whatever you read isn’t a work email or a business memo that can wait till the next day. 

Meditate.

Looking for a foolproof way to clear your mind and relax before headed to bed? Try meditation. Successful people often use the ancient practice as a means of getting into a serene state that’s ideal for sleeping soundly.

Plan your sleep schedule.

Get into a healthy habit with your sleeping. Try going to bed at the same time each evening. The consistency of sleeping habits is a crucial element of feeling like your best self and comes highly recommended from sleep experts.

Forget about the troubles of the day.

If you’ve had a bad day, it’s easy to want to go to bed still stewing about the negative things that happened. Try to avoid this! Successful people avoid consistently pessimistic attitudes at night and instead celebrate any successes you had (and look forward to the new day tomorrow!).

Totally unplug.

Do NOT check your e-mail at night and do NOT bring your smartphone with you to bed. Disconnect from all of your busy electronic devices and the quality of your night is guaranteed to improve.

Picture the good things you’ll accomplish tomorrow.

Envision what you want to accomplish tomorrow. The more you think ambitiously about the positive impact you can have the next day, the more likely you are to actually accomplish it and have it become a reality.

Take a short walk.

A great way to unwind and clear your mind is to go for a short night walk before you get ready for bed. Not only is it good physical activity, but many successful people also find it to be a very relaxing and thoughtful way to end a day.

Write in a journal.

Many successful people credit journaling as a helpful method of transforming ideas in their head into words. It’s also a good way to remember meaningful things or interactions that happened to you over the course of the day. Putting pen to paper is also very relaxing for many, meaning that it’s the perfect pre-bedtime ritual.

Engage in spiritual or religious thought.

Going to bed is a reflective time for many people. If you’re a spiritual or religious person, engaging in some sort of deeper thought before you turn in for the night can be very meaningful. You’ll feel more fulfilled and in tune with your true self if things of this nature are important to you.

Perform small, creative tasks.

If creatively stimulating your mind is important to you, try doing something small before you go to bed. Whether it’s doing a small sketch, writing song lyrics or selecting the outfit you want to wear the next day, finding one last outlet for a creative burst of energy before you end your day can send you to bed on a positive note.